To achieve SERI’s mission of creating a world where electronic products are reused and recycled in a way that results in resource preservation, the well-being of the environment, and the health and safety of workers and communities, we recognize the need for global access to responsible reuse and recycling options for every business and individual, everywhere. Further, as we do our part in building toward a circular economy, working within various rules and regulations, and reducing the carbon footprint of electronics, greater access to local options will lead to better outcomes. All of this means infrastructure, and more specifically, the network of R2 Certified Facilities must continue to expand in nearly every part of the world.

But we also recognize that R2 Certification sets a high bar and takes significant investment to achieve. Some geographies present additional challenges, including substantial barriers within the existing certification infrastructure, skills and knowledge, and affordability. Through a variety of efforts, SERI is working to break down these barriers to R2 Certification, including:

  • A larger Certification network – In June of 2022, SERI added a second Accreditation Body for the R2 Standard in NABCB, which primarily serves India, the Middle East, and surrounding areas. We continue to work to build out local Certification Bodies and a network of local auditors that will help reduce auditing and travel costs, as well as help remove language and cultural barriers that may exist.
  • Efforts to reduce the cost of implementation – SERI continues to build out the R2 Knowledge Base, adding free resources and tools to help facilities become as self-reliant as they choose to be.
  • Greater equity of SERI Licensing Fees – To further address cost barriers, at the March board meeting, the SERI Board approved a pilot program to apply a discount to the SERI licensing fee for R2 Certification in areas of the world where purchasing power parity is lower to help make costs more equitable. Through a complex formula, facilities from qualified geographies may be eligible to receive a discount on their annual SERI licensing fee for R2 Certification.
  • Skill & Knowledge Building – Recognizing that in some cases, R2 Certification may be too large a step for a facility to make from where they are today, SERI is developing a new concept called R2U. This SERI Program will expand the capabilities of individuals and facilities through knowledge and skill-building, one course at a time. The goal is to slowly implement best practices for responsible reuse and recycling that will hopefully one day lead to R2 Certification. We’ll announce more details on R2U in the coming months…
  • R2 Mentors Program – We are also creating opportunities for R2 Certified Facilities to act as mentors to non-certified facilities that could use a little extra guidance on their journey to R2 Certification. This is a “rising tide lifts all boats” kind of program, where not only are R2 Certified Facilities giving back, but in many cases, will be helping to expand their own downstream network for the future.

SERI understands that pursuing our mission requires more than just assembling a series of best practices and maintaining the highest standard for electronics reuse and recycling. We must also continue to work to remove barriers so more facilities can reach R2’s high bar for Certification and move us closer to electronics sustainability in a true global circular economy.